Skip to content

Population in Greece compared to South Africa: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Greece was 10,413,962 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Greece's population is 10,371,575 people compared to 65,829,368 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 6.35 times bigger than Greece's.
  • Greece is ranked the 94th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.92% of the world: 0.12% for Greece vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Greece has had an average growth rate of -0.41% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Greece has decreased from 11M people to 10.4M (5.89% decline), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).

Greece vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Greece
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Greece South Africa
2100 6,583,798 94,734,082
2099 6,626,788 94,523,360
2098 6,669,448 94,316,049
2097 6,712,148 94,125,043
2096 6,754,327 93,927,246
2095 6,795,603 93,719,451
2094 6,836,072 93,494,697
2093 6,875,572 93,267,274
2092 6,914,370 93,041,793
2091 6,952,243 92,793,249
2090 6,990,331 92,561,159
2089 7,028,964 92,322,396
2088 7,066,683 92,080,212
2087 7,103,695 91,833,409
2086 7,141,616 91,581,639
2085 7,180,403 91,352,906
2084 7,219,180 91,106,961
2083 7,257,814 90,845,161
2082 7,298,443 90,583,188
2081 7,340,066 90,313,417
2080 7,383,894 90,039,857
2079 7,429,047 89,770,116
2078 7,475,929 89,494,440
2077 7,525,653 89,217,520
2076 7,576,476 88,954,522
2075 7,629,016 88,681,719
2074 7,684,147 88,397,221
2073 7,742,105 88,118,589
2072 7,802,307 87,835,051
2071 7,863,855 87,509,098
2070 7,927,670 87,178,463
2069 7,993,717 86,870,660
2068 8,061,488 86,558,000
2067 8,129,716 86,237,764
2066 8,198,001 85,904,801
2065 8,265,902 85,573,984
2064 8,334,739 85,214,686
2063 8,404,367 84,845,370
2062 8,473,829 84,473,236
2061 8,543,564 84,103,016
2060 8,612,080 83,719,266
2059 8,681,422 83,325,330
2058 8,749,623 82,918,226
2057 8,817,088 82,508,742
2056 8,882,878 82,098,320
2055 8,947,611 81,669,191
2054 9,010,135 81,227,019
2053 9,070,133 80,789,939
2052 9,129,136 80,338,877
2051 9,186,935 79,858,310
2050 9,242,128 79,383,784
2049 9,297,265 78,897,472
2048 9,349,392 78,409,829
2047 9,400,970 77,894,547
2046 9,448,620 77,369,819
2045 9,495,447 76,852,544
2044 9,542,082 76,330,046
2043 9,587,391 75,800,788
2042 9,631,428 75,264,885
2041 9,676,515 74,721,871
2040 9,721,977 74,179,185
2039 9,767,381 73,636,894
2038 9,813,639 73,079,976
2037 9,860,147 72,506,991
2036 9,906,540 71,930,701
2035 9,953,900 71,337,219
2034 10,000,716 70,737,692
2033 10,047,814 70,128,299
2032 10,096,329 69,502,726
2031 10,142,892 68,865,544
2030 10,189,114 68,221,143
2029 10,235,303 67,549,189
2028 10,281,352 66,860,631
2027 10,326,692 66,166,759
2026 10,371,575 65,473,024
2025 10,413,962 64,747,319
2024 10,405,134 64,007,187
2023 10,407,351 63,212,384
2022 10,437,805 62,378,410
2021 10,570,130 61,502,603
2020 10,698,599 60,562,381
2019 10,721,582 59,587,885
2018 10,732,882 58,613,001
2017 10,754,679 57,635,162
2016 10,775,971 57,259,551
2015 10,820,883 56,723,537
2014 10,892,413 55,594,838
2013 10,965,211 54,678,791
2012 11,045,011 53,782,567
2011 11,104,899 52,995,205
2010 11,121,341 52,344,051
2009 11,107,017 51,728,516
2008 11,077,841 51,114,599
2007 11,048,473 50,528,584
2006 11,020,362 49,998,277
2005 10,987,314 49,490,033
2004 10,955,141 48,991,421
2003 10,928,070 48,500,348
2002 10,902,022 48,019,415
2001 10,862,132 47,566,800
2000 10,805,808 47,159,719
1999 10,761,698 46,730,335
1998 10,720,509 46,223,880
1997 10,661,259 45,666,838
1996 10,608,800 45,123,018
1995 10,562,153 44,541,554
1994 10,512,922 44,004,139
1993 10,460,415 43,297,156
1992 10,399,061 42,443,509
1991 10,319,927 41,687,898
1990 10,196,792 40,746,268
1989 10,089,498 39,628,575
1988 10,036,983 38,480,649
1987 10,000,595 37,326,190
1986 9,967,213 36,180,515
1985 9,934,300 35,042,093
1984 9,895,801 33,892,788
1983 9,846,627 32,739,304
1982 9,789,513 31,615,339
1981 9,729,350 30,541,044
1980 9,642,505 29,518,857
1979 9,548,258 28,634,162
1978 9,429,959 27,869,507
1977 9,308,479 27,118,952
1976 9,188,150 26,395,450
1975 9,046,541 25,690,940
1974 8,962,022 24,989,108
1973 8,929,086 24,294,263
1972 8,888,628 23,609,456
1971 8,831,036 22,942,143
1970 8,792,806 22,279,984
1969 8,772,764 21,614,676
1968 8,740,765 20,957,287
1967 8,684,088 20,314,066
1966 8,613,651 19,690,087
1965 8,550,333 19,089,380
1964 8,510,429 18,511,361
1963 8,479,625 17,954,564
1962 8,448,233 17,418,522
1961 8,398,050 16,908,035
1960 8,331,725 16,440,172

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/greece/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Greece decreased by 244,391 people (a 2.22% decline), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Greece lost 404,396 people (a 3.75% decline), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth).

Greece was ranked 74th most populous country in 2006 and is 94th in 2026. South Africa was ranked 24th in 2006 and still ranked 24th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Greece's population will shrink by 10.9% to 9,242,128 people with a rank change from 94th to 106th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.7M people, while Greece's population already peaked in 2010 at 11.1M people and is projected to decrease to 6.58M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Greece
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Greece South Africa
2100 -0.65% 0.22%
2099 -0.64% 0.22%
2098 -0.64% 0.2%
2097 -0.62% 0.21%
2096 -0.61% 0.22%
2095 -0.59% 0.24%
2094 -0.57% 0.24%
2093 -0.56% 0.24%
2092 -0.54% 0.27%
2091 -0.54% 0.25%
2090 -0.55% 0.26%
2089 -0.53% 0.26%
2088 -0.52% 0.27%
2087 -0.53% 0.27%
2086 -0.54% 0.25%
2085 -0.54% 0.27%
2084 -0.53% 0.29%
2083 -0.56% 0.29%
2082 -0.57% 0.3%
2081 -0.59% 0.3%
2080 -0.61% 0.3%
2079 -0.63% 0.31%
2078 -0.66% 0.31%
2077 -0.67% 0.3%
2076 -0.69% 0.31%
2075 -0.72% 0.32%
2074 -0.75% 0.32%
2073 -0.77% 0.32%
2072 -0.78% 0.37%
2071 -0.8% 0.38%
2070 -0.83% 0.35%
2069 -0.84% 0.36%
2068 -0.84% 0.37%
2067 -0.83% 0.39%
2066 -0.82% 0.39%
2065 -0.83% 0.42%
2064 -0.83% 0.44%
2063 -0.82% 0.44%
2062 -0.82% 0.44%
2061 -0.8% 0.46%
2060 -0.8% 0.47%
2059 -0.78% 0.49%
2058 -0.77% 0.5%
2057 -0.74% 0.5%
2056 -0.72% 0.53%
2055 -0.69% 0.54%
2054 -0.66% 0.54%
2053 -0.65% 0.56%
2052 -0.63% 0.6%
2051 -0.6% 0.6%
2050 -0.59% 0.62%
2049 -0.56% 0.62%
2048 -0.55% 0.66%
2047 -0.5% 0.68%
2046 -0.49% 0.67%
2045 -0.49% 0.68%
2044 -0.47% 0.7%
2043 -0.46% 0.71%
2042 -0.47% 0.73%
2041 -0.47% 0.73%
2040 -0.46% 0.74%
2039 -0.47% 0.76%
2038 -0.47% 0.79%
2037 -0.47% 0.8%
2036 -0.48% 0.83%
2035 -0.47% 0.85%
2034 -0.47% 0.87%
2033 -0.48% 0.9%
2032 -0.46% 0.93%
2031 -0.45% 0.94%
2030 -0.45% 0.99%
2029 -0.45% 1.03%
2028 -0.44% 1.05%
2027 -0.43% 1.06%
2026 -0.41% 1.12%
2025 0.08% 1.16%
2024 -0.02% 1.26%
2023 -0.29% 1.34%
2022 -1.25% 1.42%
2021 -1.2% 1.55%
2020 -0.21% 1.64%
2019 -0.11% 1.66%
2018 -0.2% 1.7%
2017 -0.2% 0.66%
2016 -0.42% 0.94%
2015 -0.66% 2.03%
2014 -0.66% 1.68%
2013 -0.72% 1.67%
2012 -0.54% 1.49%
2011 -0.15% 1.24%
2010 0.13% 1.19%
2009 0.26% 1.2%
2008 0.27% 1.16%
2007 0.26% 1.06%
2006 0.3% 1.03%
2005 0.29% 1.02%
2004 0.25% 1.01%
2003 0.24% 1%
2002 0.37% 0.95%
2001 0.52% 0.86%
2000 0.41% 0.92%
1999 0.38% 1.1%
1998 0.56% 1.22%
1997 0.49% 1.21%
1996 0.44% 1.31%
1995 0.47% 1.22%
1994 0.5% 1.63%
1993 0.59% 2.01%
1992 0.77% 1.81%
1991 1.21% 2.31%
1990 1.06% 2.82%
1989 0.52% 2.98%
1988 0.36% 3.09%
1987 0.33% 3.17%
1986 0.33% 3.25%
1985 0.39% 3.39%
1984 0.5% 3.52%
1983 0.58% 3.56%
1982 0.62% 3.52%
1981 0.9% 3.46%
1980 0.99% 3.09%
1979 1.25% 2.74%
1978 1.31% 2.77%
1977 1.31% 2.74%
1976 1.57% 2.74%
1975 0.94% 2.81%
1974 0.37% 2.86%
1973 0.46% 2.9%
1972 0.65% 2.91%
1971 0.43% 2.97%
1970 0.23% 3.08%
1969 0.37% 3.14%
1968 0.65% 3.17%
1967 0.82% 3.17%
1966 0.74% 3.15%
1965 0.47% 3.12%
1964 0.36% 3.1%
1963 0.37% 3.08%
1962 0.6% 3.02%
1961 0.8% 2.85%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/greece/south-africa | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Greece grew by 0.08%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.

Live population counters

Greece South Africa
Current population
10371575
65829368
Population rank 94/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.12% 0.79%
One net population change
59.7 minutes
42.7 seconds
One birth every
7.65 minutes
26.7 seconds
One death every
4.17 minutes
53.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline +24 +2,028
Annual growth/decline +8,828 +740,132
Annual growth/decline rate +0.08% +1.16%
Population growth rate rank 154/197 91/197
One migration net change every
31.7 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change +16,636 +146,370
Net migration rank 37/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 1,423,964 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 46/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 14.2% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 47/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Greece
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Greece South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 16,636 - 146,370
2024 -57,229 -122,772 591,618 166,972
2023 -56,200 -159,430 602,793 228,222
2022 -63,671 -53,997 603,636 233,284
2021 -58,135 -160,277 456,411 458,246
2020 -46,004 6,353 595,873 369,901
2019 -41,814 36,762 652,130 331,124
2018 -33,272 17,938 648,319 318,260
2017 -36,566 10,483 645,975 343,146
2016 -25,862 10,484 641,365 -879,235
2015 -29,216 -43,462 668,771 641,150
2014 -20,696 -46,678 674,754 272,697
2013 -17,545 -59,323 652,427 232,230
2012 -16,568 -65,364 643,723 264,091
2011 -4,441 -31,786 601,708 65,166
2010 5,560 2,001 566,834 68,563
2009 8,886 18,182 554,115 41,528
2008 11,077 27,081 595,332 36,869
2007 2,210 25,400 503,567 36,339
2006 6,612 27,621 487,584 33,159
2005 2,197 33,297 464,464 31,286
2004 0 29,039 442,540 58,924
2003 -1,093 25,323 415,018 65,604
2002 0 25,692 430,926 50,313
2001 0 60,387 484,801 -60,793
2000 -1,081 54,661 526,963 -136,794
1999 -2,153 49,930 594,643 -126,011
1998 -2,144 47,856 627,027 -82,722
1997 2,133 45,671 667,969 -98,181
1996 0 43,444 710,868 -193,007
1995 1,056 42,674 743,488 -98,403
1994 6,307 42,897 698,609 -268,849
1993 4,185 39,829 789,220 194,977
1992 6,239 41,000 794,415 -71,342
1991 6,192 37,917 827,296 -39,131
1990 8,157 26,294 835,421 259,718
1989 9,080 18,862 884,629 255,605
1988 15,055 20,557 909,221 246,382
1987 10,001 19,005 922,330 231,009
1986 20,931 19,064 903,644 234,378
1985 22,849 16,093 893,889 244,940
1984 37,604 19,767 869,011 290,789
1983 42,341 18,655 837,013 310,172
1982 50,906 19,675 807,550 293,195
1981 54,484 25,061 767,833 279,985
1980 60,748 47,460 738,415 258,127
1979 65,882 72,184 716,541 56,323
1978 64,124 60,775 694,341 62,121
1977 59,574 19,193 680,929 63,739
1976 65,236 89,601 675,011 27,333
1975 61,516 61,265 667,862 38,809
1974 68,111 -22,590 658,438 38,518
1973 59,824 -42,387 651,596 41,125
1972 64,887 -3,589 638,754 38,163
1971 67,116 -12,747 624,761 32,961
1970 71,222 -54,166 605,102 61,514
1969 82,464 -118,544 590,794 73,225
1968 87,408 -429 571,841 78,932
1967 91,183 -55,853 553,741 81,932
1966 86,998 21,206 534,862 77,417
1965 83,793 -81,576 506,632 82,514
1964 83,402 -76,678 490,606 76,298
1963 81,404 -77,345 473,821 72,844
1962 85,327 -74,972 455,634 69,771
1961 86,500 -61,102 437,851 57,728
1960 96,648 -15,996 421,263 18,891

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/greece/south-africa | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 49.5% of the population change in Greece is from natural causes (a loss of 447,969 people) and 50.5% is from migration (a loss of 457,918 people). In South Africa 73.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,106,891 people) and 26.6% is from migration (a gain of 2,211,070 people).

As of 2024, 1,423,964 residents or 14.2% of the population were not native-born in Greece, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Greece
City Population
Athens 643K
Crete 623K
Thessaloniki 310K
Patras 174K
Piraeus 168K
Larissa 146K
Heraklion 145K
Volos 85.8K
Ioannina 64.9K
Chalcis 64.5K
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pretoria 742K
Pietermaritzburg 619K
Durban 595K
Rustenburg 550K
Randburg 337K
Port Elizabeth 312K
East London 267K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/greece/south-africa | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.